Place service ahead of appointments, Olurode tells Tinubu, govs-elect

Congratulates Adeleke on electoral, legal victory

A retired professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lai Olurode, has advised the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and newly-elected governors to consider vital factors in nominating those who would serve in their governments.

Factors he enumerated include readiness to serve, not being driven by desperate desire for the perquisites and fame that such positions confer on occupants and a burning desire that life needs to be restored to all sectors.

Olurode stated that a yardstick should be designed that will assist elected officials at all cadres to capture previous contributions to service either in the private or public sector.

He said: “Health conditions of nominees are important. This is where age of appointees becomes relevant. In key sectors that are critical to development in the third world, such as education, works, health, department and rural transformation, young people in their 30s or 40s should be searched for. The cut-off age for sectors that are the life wire of the economy should be about 55.

“An allowance can be made for such exceptional cases. Apart from placing services far higher in considerations, gender balance is being advocated. Appointees must represent and reflect Nigeria’s diversities and ethno-religious complexity. This would enable all Nigerians to have confidence in the new government. This will promote synergy between state and society. A non-inclusive government cannot work in present day Nigeria.”

Also, Olurode has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, for his electoral and legal victory. In a message, Olurode advised the new governor to quickly settle down and respond to the cries of the people in terms of infrastructural deficit, particularly roads, housing shortage, water supply and decay in educational services.

Olurode equally commended the former governor, Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, for being a gentleman who never sought violence in his pursuit of electoral justice.

He, however, appealed to the good people of Osun State to rally round the new government for the aspirations of the founding-fathers of the state to be met.